When you install a new app–like, say, a video player–but don’t set the new app as the default for file types it supports, when you open a file that app can read–in this example, a video file–Windows will notify you that you have a “new app that can open this type of file”, and show a window to choose a new default app for that file type. This can get annoying after a while, but thankfully you can turn those notifications off.

These notifications can be useful, but aren’t completely necessary–you can set the default apps you want Windows to use from Settings, or open a file with a different app on the fly. So if you want to turn these notifications off entirely, you can do so with a quick Registry or Group Policy Editor setting.

Home Users: Disable the New App Installed Notification by Editing the Registry

If you have a Windows Home edition, you will have to edit the Windows Registry to make these changes. You can also do it this way if you have Windows Pro or Enterprise, but feel more comfortable working in the Registry than Group Policy Editor. (If you have Pro or Enterprise, though, we recommend using the easier Group Policy Editor, as described in the next section.)

Standard warning: Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it can render your system unstable or even inoperable. This is a pretty simple hack and as long as you stick to the instructions, you shouldn’t have any problems. That said, if you’ve never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely back up the Registry (and your computer!) before making changes.

To get started, open the Registry Editor by hitting Start and typing “regedit.” Press Enter to open Registry Editor and give it permission to make changes to your PC.

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Next, you’re going to create a new value inside the Explorer key. Right-click the Explorer icon and then choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value NoNewAppAlert .

Now, double-click the new NoNewAppAlert value to open its property sheet. Change the value from 0 to 1 in the “Value data” box and then click OK.

You can now close Registry Editor. From now on, you should no longer see the new app notification or the app selection window. If you want to reverse these changes and turn the notifications back on, just return to the Explorer key and set the NoNewAppAlert value from 1 back to 0.

Download Our One-Click Registry Hacks

If you don’t feel like diving into the Registry yourself, we’ve created two downloadable registry hacks you can use. One hack disables the new app install notification and window and the other hack re-enables them, restoring the default setting. Both are included in the following ZIP file. Double-click the one you want to use, click through the prompts, and then restart your computer.

These hacks are really just the Explorer key, stripped down to the two values we described above, and then exported to a .REG file. Running the “Remove App Install Notifications” hack creates the NoNewAppAlert value and sets it to 1. Running the “Restore App Install Notifications (Default)” hack sets the value back to 0. And if you enjoy fiddling with the Registry, it’s worth taking the time to learn how to make your own Registry hacks.

Pro and Enterprise Users: Disable the New App Installed Notification with the Local Group Policy Editor

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, the easiest way to disable the new app install notifications is by using the Local Group Policy Editor. It’s a pretty powerful tool, so if you’ve never used it before, it’s worth taking some time to learn what it can do. Also, if you’re on a company network, do everyone a favor and check with your admin first. If your work computer is part of a domain, it’s also likely that it’s part of a domain group policy that will supersede the local group policy, anyway.

In the Local Group Policy Editor, in the left-hand pane, drill down to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. On the right, find the “Do not show the ‘new application installed’ notification” item and double-click it.

In the properties window that opens, select the Enabled option and then click OK.

You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor. If at any time you want to re-enable the app install notifications, just follow the same procedure and set that option back to Disabled or Not Configured.

And that’s it. The notifications Windows 8 and 10 show when a new app is installed can certainly be useful. They are especially handy when you’re first setting up your computer and getting apps installed. But if you’re comfortable handling file associations yourself, or you often install additional programs to try out, the notifications can be annoying. A couple of quick changes to the Registry or Group Policy are all you need to disable them.

Walter Glenn is a long time computer geek and tech writer. Though he's mostly a Windows and gadget guy, he has a fondness for anything tech. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Did You Know

Rice farmers don’t keep rice fields irrigated to the point that there is standing water because rice plants require that much water, but rather because rice plants can tolerate that much water and other plants cannot—the water acts as a natural weed deterrent that kills everything but the rice.